Exercising device



May 21, 1935. H. e. CHILD EXEROISING DEVICE Filed Dec. 24, 1951- mu/avrua H.G CHILD Patented May 21, 1935 EXERCISING DEVICE Hal G. Child,

Oswego, Oreg.

Application December 24, 1931, Serial No. 582,904

2 Claims.

This invention relates generally to exercising devices, and particularly to a means for training the body for the purpose of improving the physique as well as the skill of the exerciser, the latter being directed toward the playing of the game of golf. I

The main object of this invention is to make it possible for the user thereof to develop the habit of taking golf exercise daily, regardless of weather conditions or the locality of the user, and without the necessity of employing cumbersome or expensive equipment.

The second object is the production of an exercising device having the general characteristics of a golf club, but made adjustable in length to make it adaptable to indoor use, and adjustable in weight of head to permit an increase in weight to ofi-set any shortening of the handle, or to still further adjust the weight to make the feel correspond with the various kinds of clubs.

The third object is to construct an exercising device which will retain the feel'of a golf club.

The fourth object is to make possible regular and consistent training instead of haphazard playing, as is the case when a player's training consists chiefly or entirely of contests on the links themselves.

Before entering into an explanation of this invention attention is called to the fact that golf being a rangey out-of-doprs gameit is normally played at a distance somewhat remote from the usual field of activity of an individual. Unlike almost all other sports the intervals between plays form a large portion of the time expended upon the links, so that the proportion of time expended in swinging a golf club is relatively small compared with the total time required to complete a course. In other games such as boxing, tennis, baseball, etc. the player is actively engaged in playing the game a large portion of the time.

It is not strange, then, that of the large number ofplayers of the game of golf only a small percentage become really efficient at the game, and itis highly probable that a large part of the benefits usually attributed to the game of golf as a prophylactic and therapeutic exercise is due to the exercise of walking between the intervals of play and the mental relaxation afforded by the same itself.

In other words, the average player of golf is untrained when he walks onto the links and though he may play a game of golf frequently he actually remains in an untrained condition, if

the training made possible by my device is used as a standard.

It is a commonly recognized fact that the movements undergone by the body when swinging a golf club (as in actual playing) are highly 6 beneficial bringing into play many of those countless muscles of the human body otherwise seldom, if ever, used and requiring the joints of the body to function for the purpose for which they were intended. 10

My purpose, therefore, is to make it possible, for the player to actually train himself for the game of golf and thereby obtain the maximum amount of enjoyment and benefit from the game when played, as well as from the training periods which occupy the time between the games. This training, besides exercising the involved muscles to the point of fatigue (which is essential to their being built up to a better condition) also includes the practicing of the correct form until it becomes habitual, rendering it unnecessary for the player to concern himself with form during a contest thus enabling him to play naturally and to devote his entire attention to the mental problem of the game without, being distracted by the physical side thereof.

These objects are accomplished in the manner set forth in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the device with 80 portions broken away in section.

2 is a bottom view of the head.

Fig. 3 is a section taken along the line 3-3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the weight 5 members.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the head end of the device. V

Similar numbers of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring in detail to the drawing, there is shown a hollow head ill on whose shaft II is slidably mounted a grip or handle l2 adapted to be secured in one of various positions for the purpose of varying the length of the club. A set screw I3 is mounted in the ferrule ll of the grip l2 and its pointed end 15 occupies one of the countersinks IS in the shaft I i. Obviously, any other form of fastening means which will hold the grip l2 rigidly in relation to the shaft II will be satisfactory.

The head i0 is provided with an opening I! in the under side I8. The opening I! is provided with a closure l9 through which passes a screw 20. On the screw 2|! areplaced a number of disks II. The end of the screw II is threaded into a boss 22 on the inside of the top 23 of the head II.

It is desirable to thread one of the disks 2| .to receive the screw 20 for the purpose of holding the remainder of the disks between the threaded disk and the closure l9. Obviously, other forms of weight adjustments may be provided for the head without departing from the spirit of this invention.

The operation of the device is as follows: The

user first shortens the club suiilciently to enable him to use it indoors, if necessary, or in cramped quarters, and he adds enough disks II to the head to ofl-set the shortened club length to give him the same feel" that he would have if he were swinging one of his regular golf clubs. He swings the device and holds his body in accord with detailed instructions not necessarily elaborated upon here, eventually employing enough additional disks 2| to make the feel" of the club a trifle heavier than his corresponding golf club.

It must be borne in mind that the device herein described is not a golf club in any sense of the word and it is never used to drive a ball, its purpose being to stimulate and exercise the body.

varying lengths and refers to adjustably maintaining the balanced weight when gripped in the hands.

I claim:

1. Aciub for use in restricted space for training golfers to groove" or render automatic the swing of their clubs, comprising a handle, a shaft, a head, and means for varying the weight of the head, the overall length of the device being less than 34 inches, and the total weightaof the device without the means being greater than 18 ounces, said handle and shaft being relatively movable so as to alter the overall length to chosen figures below 34 inches when the means is varied to increase the weight whereby to impart to the user the feel of a usual club, the handle of which is too long to use for practice in said restricted space.

2. A practice and training golf club including a recessed head for receiving weight increasing bodies, a shaft and a handle, said shaft having telescoping engagement in said handle, the head resembling generally a driver head in form and corresponding therewith in the angle the shank makes with the sole, but being of greater weight than a driver head, the handle resembling the grip or handle of a driver in shape and size, and the shaft being materially shorter than the shaft of ,a driver, the overall extended length being less than 36 inches and the minimum weight of the club being greater than 18 ounces.

HAL G. CIHLD. 

